Years ago, I was in a relationship. It started as a friendship, but when it became more, I felt the Spirit’s grief as he did not desire to pursue God, first and foremost. I rationalized and justified it to myself and stayed in it. I enjoyed having a companion again. It had been so long since someone sent me flowers and treated me like a queen. Surely, there was a way to make this work? Surely God wanted to bless me with this, right?
Then one day, while out hiking, he asked me to pose for a picture by standing by a huge boulder lodged into a hillside. It appeared to be completely safe. But the moment I stepped to its edge, it broke loose and started to tilt downhill and roll over me. In slow motion, I watched that huge rock that should have crushed me somehow bounce clean over my body, only scraping my knee as it passed over me. I was stunned. Everyone watching was speechless. They, too, were amazed that I wasn’t hurt much worse. With help, I was able to limp away from that hillside and back to the trailhead. Sure, my knee was bleeding—but I was alive.
I still have the scar. And every time I see it, I am reminded of God’s grace and mercy. You see, God was drawing a line in the sand for me. He loved me enough to interrupt a path that would have cost me my peace, my ministry, and years I couldn’t get back—all for a “love” that was leading me away from Him.
At that moment, I had a decision to make and I chose to pursue God. My significant other chose differently so I let go. And, although part of me was hurt, I don’t regret my decision.
There is nothing in my life that has ever compared to my close relationship with God.
The experience of God’s presence is very aptly described in His Word as “fullness of joy” and “pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) We can taste and see that the Lord is good, because He promises to bless all those who trust in Him. (Psalm 34:8) When we walk with God, we have the peace that passes all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7) And if we trust in the Lord, we are promised that we will be like a tree planted by water, completely unafraid even in drought, still bearing fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8) When we experience these things for ourselves, we come to understand that no other relationship has the capacity to offer us anything even close to what God gives us.
There is no relationship in all the world worth compromising what God alone can give us.
If something in your life is compromising your walk with God, it is NEVER worth it. God isn’t trying to deprive you by pulling you back—He wants to bless you with a greater life. Sometimes His mercy is simply a warning feeling. Sometimes it’s a boulder that should have ended everything—but didn’t.
The Bible doesn’t just tell us that God will discipline us—it tells us why. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens.” Psalm 23:3 promises He “restores my soul” and leads me “in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” And Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that His plans for us are “for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Discipline isn’t God being harsh—it’s God being a good Father.
God didn’t hold back His own Son to save us, so why would He hold back the discipline it takes to keep us walking on the path of blessing? If He paid the ultimate price to bring us into His family, it would actually be unloving for Him to stand back and watch us destroy ourselves. It’s such a blessing to know that God refuses to let His children slide back into slavery to the very things Christ already set us free from.
We have a Father who loves us too much to not discipline us.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve felt Your conviction and delayed obeying. Thank You for the times when You’ve drawn a line for me. Stay with me and bring me back when I stray. Help me to recognize Your voice quickly and respond in obedience, not with delay. Thank You for the cross and for loving me enough to still chase me down. Keep me on the path of blessing, and don’t let me become a slave again to anything Your Son already set me free from. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
